I have a friend who just loves hippopotami. Not really my cup of tea, but she adores them. She also likes the color purple and her birthday is two days after Christmas. This creates quite a shopping dilemma, trying to satisfy all of her likes while following the "people should get what they want" rule of gift giving. But by taking advantage of the wealth of creative artisans, I was able to get the perfect gift. Enlisting the talents of a polymer clay artisan I was able to get

ABOVE, IGMA Fellow Kerri Pajutee created this the 1:12 polar bear
LEFT, CDHM Artisan Kristy Taylor created the mouse riding a Big Wheel®

a purple hippo sitting atop a birthday cake. Dilemma solved, requirements met!

During the holiday shopping season almost all retail outlets have their Christmas themed merchandise out in force. If you are looking for a bear you find one, but it will be a skating bear, or a white bear, or a bear dressed in scarf and mittens - probably all of the above. Same goes for penguins. Actually, for most miniature animals. There are also no special orders either. Just try walking up to the sales counter and declaring, "I know my mom will absolutely love this bear, but can I get one that's holding some bingo cards please?" Shortly after the kindly security guard has escorted you out of the building you realize that you may not get what you want and are instead left to choose what may be sitting on their shelf, rather than of what you want sitting on yours.